Day 1 Colombo Airport - Horathapola
We will meet you at Colombo airport and transfer you to Horathapola Estate, an hour’s drive north of the airport. Unwind and relax in their beautiful gardens and enjoy what many have described as Sri Lanka’s best rice and curry dinner!

Accommodation; Horathapola Estate
Built in the early 1920ies by the then British owner of the property, this grand planters mansion has maintained its charm of a bygone era. Surrounded by a large lawn and tall flowering trees, it is hidden from the still functioning estate belonging to the Fernando family since the 1940ies, where coconut, rice, pineapple and other fruits, as well as spices and hardwood trees are cultivated.

The bungalow has 3 large suites and one two-bedroom family suite. All rooms in the main house are furnished with antique four-poster beds and furniture of the epoch, while in the dependence, a slightly more modern room has been added with an in-built cement bed with ebony lining. The bathrooms are splendidly redone and very spacious. Each of the rooms has a private veranda or balcony.

Room type: Deluxe Room
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Days 2, 3 & 4 Horathapola – Tea Country
Your next stop is the hill country, also known as the tea country. The trip from Horathapola to the tea country is a scenic drive into the heart of the country. The journey takes approximately 4 hours. On route we stop for a snack at the site of the filming of the legendary “Bridge Over The River Kwai”. Tea Trails consists of 4 classic colonial bungalows built for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj and we believe it is one of the most exquisite experiences to be had in Sri Lanka, with butler service and fine cuisine.

Accommodation; Tea Trails
In central Sri Lanka lies the Bogawantalawa Valley, known as the Golden Valley of Tea and home to old Ceylon, replete with rolling green hills, plantation bungalows, high tea and exquisite service. Here in solitude lies Ceylon Tea Trails, 4 luxurious colonial bungalows, built over 100 years ago for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj and sympathetically restored by the owners of Dilmah Tea. Experience life on a working tea estate, unchanged for over a hundred years. Of course we now provide the little luxuries denied to the planters of yore.

Unwind in the beautiful gardens, visit a tea factory for gentle education in the art of making the world’s finest tea, or spend an adventure filled day trekking, biking or white water rafting.

Room type: Garden Suite
Meals: Full Board

Day 5 & 6 Tea Country To Uda Walawe Natioanl Park
After breakfast we travel out of the hills and head south to Uda Walawe, one of the island's most popular wildlife sanctuaries, which is mainly open parkland traversed by streams and is best known for its herds of wild elephant. Go for a game drive in the morning before travelling onto Yala, another national park in the southeast corner of the island.

Uda Walawe National Park – Kulu Safaris
Kulu Safaris present mobile Safaris that combine professional naturalists, luxurious facilities and exclusive surroundings deep inside the National Park. Photograph wild elephants and an abundance of wildlife. Return to your camp for a swim, watch the wildlife at sunset ambling along the water’s edge. Uda Walawe National Park is best known for its large and very visible herds of elephants, often visible even at mid day. The resident population of elephants is in excess of 350.

Room type: Tented Camp
Meals: Full Board

Day 7 Uda Walawe National Park To Colombo
After a lazy breakfast we travel west to Colombo.

Colombo
A final stop in Colombo will not disappoint. A glimpse beneath the chaotic façade of this metropolis on the banks of the Indian Ocean will reveal a treasure of delights and surprises to the inquisitive visitor. We always encourage our guest to experience Colombo for at least a day or two. Colombo is not a city where crowds of tourist are shoved from one monument to the next. It is not a city of shopping malls or gigantic plasma screens pumping out advertisements night and day. It is a city with charming little hideaways waiting to be discovered. We have carefully handpicked the best shops and galleries, and the best restaurants. Sri Lanka In Style offers a personalized shopping tour of Colombo for those interested.

Accommodation: Park Street Hotel
This beautifully restored 250-year-old colonial bungalow was once the abode of Colombo entrepreneur Sheikh Salehbhoy Moosajee and his second wife Begum Zarina, a flamboyant artist, fashion and social icon of the time. It was the third of lifestyle guru Taru's impeccably stylish properties to open, and her graceful renovation has carefully retained the elegant colonial ambience of this ancestral home whilst bringing it firmly into the 21st century. Ornate chandeliers, Dutch-period furniture and magnificent antiques provide plenty of interest while as a personal touch, Begum Zarina's portraits and paintings liberally adorn the crisp white walls. Located on a quiet leafy side street The Park Street is a solace in a busy city and its high level of personalised service makes it incomparable with the city's large five star properties.

Room type: Luxury Suite
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 Colombo – Colombo Airport
Depart in good time for your flight back home. The journey to the airport will take approximately 1 hours although it can take 1.5 hours during peak traffic hours.

What's included :
* Air-conditioned car and English-speaking driver for tour and transfers
* First-class train tickets from Kandy to Hatton
* Entrance fees: Entrance Fees to Uda Walawe National Park.
* Airport meet and greet
* 1 night at Horathapola on half board
* 3 nights at Tea Trails on full board
* 2 nights at Uda Walawe National Park
* 1 night at the Park Street Hotel on bed and breakfast
* Local taxes

What's not included :
* Scheduled international & domestic flights
* Comprehensive travel insurance
* Optional tours & activities
* Entry fees where applicable
* Gratuities and expenses of a personal nature

Inland
(7 Nights / 8 Days)

Beaches are beaches anywhere in the world but it is often said that the interior of a country is where the true spirit lies. Relive Kandy’s traditional pageant and custom, and be taken on the epic story of Ceylon Tea.

NOTE: This trip is done perfectly in combination with short stays at the Maldives or Middle East.

Day 1 Colombo Airport - The Wallawwa
We will meet you at Colombo airport and transfer you to The Wallawa, a short drive north of the airport. Unwind and relax in their beautiful gardens.

Accommodation; The Wallawwa
It might be situated just a few kilometers from the airport but The Wallawwa feels nothing like a transit hotel. Sitting in acres of beautifully mature gardens, The Wallawwa or ‘ The W’ as it is affectionately known is a sanctuary of serenity and style where the old is merged beautifully with the new. Built over 200 years ago in the traditional “Dutch warehouse’ colonial design, the W is the most ancient manor house in the entire province and was the ancestral home for many years of the Dias-Abeysinghe family - Maha Mudaliyas who originally hailed from Galle. With its completely secluded location, The W is a luxurious private hideaway whose 14 boutique bedrooms, exquisite food and wonderfully oversized Z Spa provide the perfect ingredients for a relaxing and memorable stay, even if a couple of nights can only be squeezed in at the beginning or end of a holiday.

Days 2 & 3 The Wallawwa – Kandy
The journey from The Wallawwa to Sri Lanka's hill capital - the small lakeside city of Kandy will occupy most of the day. On the way we will visit an Elephant Orphanage and have lunch. The following day a city tour includes the fabulous Botanical gardens and the Temple of the Tooth, in which a sacred relic of the Lord Buddha is enshrined. Another option is to see Kandy’s sites on the first day in Kandy and on the second day head over to Victoria Reservoir for a round of Golf and lunch, colonial style, at the club house overlooking the Victoria Reservoir.

Kandy
Kandy is known for its mild climate, colonial architecture, its spectacular festival - The Kandy Perahera which takes place in August. The Perahera is a procession of the sacred Buddha relic through the streets of Kandy, accompanied by dancers, musicians, entertainers and elephants. Kandy is also well known for being home to Sri Lanka's holiest temple, the Temple of the Tooth. Victoria Reservoir, a short half hour ride from Kandy is home to Sri Lanka's best golf course, the Victoria Golf Club, regarded by many as one of the most scenic golf courses in Asia.

Accommodation: The Kandy House, Kandy
The ancestral home of one of Kandy’s most influential aristocratic families, Ratwatte Walauwa was built by Chief Minister Ratwatte Adigar in 1804. Relive some of the regions traditional pageant and custom in this beautifully restored manor house which retains the atmosphere of a private country home while its colonial influence, providing seclusion and serenity in its countryside setting only a short distance from Kandy. Dine in style in the original dining-room surrounded by ancestral portraits or less formally on the verandah overlooking the Kandyan hills

Room type: Luxury Suite
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Days 4, 5 & 6 Kandy – Tea Country
Your next stop is the hill country, also known as the tea country. The train ride from Kandy to the heart of Sri Lanka’s Tea Country is one of the most scenic train rides in Asia. There is an observation carriage at the end of the train with large windows to enjoy the views. There are two trains daily and the travel time is approximately 2.5 hours. The train stops in Hatton where your driver will await at the station to drive you to the Tea Trails bungalow of your choice. Tea Trails consists of 4 classic colonial bungalows built for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj and we believe it is one of the most exquisite experiences to be had in Sri Lanka, with butler service and fine cuisine.

Accommodation: Tea Trails
In central Sri Lanka lies the Bogawantalawa Valley, known as the Golden Valley of Tea and home to old Ceylon, replete with rolling green hills, plantation bungalows, high tea and exquisite service. Here in solitude lies Ceylon Tea Trails, 4 luxurious colonial bungalows, built over 100 years ago for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj and sympathetically restored by the owners of Dilmah Tea. Experience life on a working tea estate, unchanged for over a hundred years. Of course we now provide the little luxuries denied to the planters of yore.

Unwind in the beautiful gardens, visit a tea factory for gentle education in the art of making the world’s finest tea, or spend an adventure filled day trekking, biking or white water rafting.

Room type: Garden Suite
Meals: Full Board

Day 7 Kandy To Colombo
After a lazy breakfast we travel west to Colombo. On route we will visit the location of the filming of “Bridge over the River Kwai”.

Colombo
A final stop in Colombo will not disappoint. A glimpse beneath the chaotic façade of this metropolis on the banks of the Indian Ocean will reveal a treasure of delights and surprises to the inquisitive visitor. We always encourage our guest to experience Colombo for at least a day or two. Colombo is not a city where crowds of tourist are shoved from one monument to the next. It is not a city of shopping malls or gigantic plasma screens pumping out advertisements night and day. It is a city with charming little hideaways waiting to be discovered. We have carefully handpicked the best shops and galleries, and the best restaurants. Sri Lanka In Style offers a personalized shopping tour of Colombo for those interested.

Accommodation: Park Street Hotel
This beautifully restored 250-year-old colonial bungalow was once the abode of Colombo entrepreneur Sheikh Salehbhoy Moosajee and his second wife Begum Zarina, a flamboyant artist, fashion and social icon of the time. It was the third of lifestyle guru Taru’s impeccably stylish properties to open, and her graceful renovation has carefully retained the elegant colonial ambience of this ancestral home whilst bringing it firmly into the 21st century. Ornate chandeliers, Dutch-period furniture and magnificent antiques provide plenty of interest while as a personal touch, Begum Zarina’s portraits and paintings liberally adorn the crisp white walls. Located on a quiet leafy side street The Park Street is a solace in a busy city and its high level of personalised service makes it incomparable with the city’s large five star properties.

Room type: Luxury Suite
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 Colombo – Colombo Airport
Depart in good time for your flight back home. The journey to the airport will take approximately 1 hours although it can take 1.5 hours during peak traffic hours.

What's included :
* Air-conditioned car and English-speaking driver for tour and transfers
* First-class train tickets from Kandy to Hatton
* Entrance fees: Entrance Fees to Uda Walawe National Park.
* Airport meet and greet
* 1 night at The Wallawwa
* 3 nights at Tea Trails on full board
* 2 nights at Uda Walawe National Park
* 1 night at the Park Street Hotel on bed and breakfast
* Local taxes

What's not included :
* Scheduled international & domestic flights
* Comprehensive travel insurance
* Optional tours & activities
* Entry fees where applicable
* Gratuities and expenses of a personal nature

The Serendip Rivierad
(7 Nights / 8 Days)

A journey along Sri Lanka's southern coastal belt, also known as the “Serendip Riviera”. Experience Sri Lanka’s vibrant southern heritage, rural fishing villages, sun-kissed beaches staying in magnificent boutique hotels and villas.

NOTE: This trip is done perfectly in combination with short stays at the Maldives or Dubai

Day 1 Colombo Airport - Colombo
We will meet you at the airport and take you to Colombo which lies to the south approximately 1 hour away, where you can relax and unwind after the flight at the fabulous Park Street Hotel

Colombo
A stop in Colombo will not disappoint. A glimpse beneath the chaotic façade of this metropolis on the banks of the Indian Ocean will reveal a treasure of delights and surprises to the inquisitive visitor. We always encourage our guest to experience Colombo for at least a day or two. Colombo is not a city where crowds of tourist are shoved from one monument to the next. It is not a city of shopping malls or gigantic plasma screens pumping out advertisements night and day. It is a city with charming little hideaways waiting to be discovered. We have carefully handpicked the best shops and galleries, and the best restaurants. Sri Lanka In Style offers a personalized shopping tour of Colombo for those interested.

Accommodation; Park Street Hotel
This beautifully restored 250-year-old colonial bungalow was once the abode of Colombo entrepreneur Sheikh Salehbhoy Moosajee and his second wife Begum Zarina, a flamboyant artist, fashion and social icon of the time. It was the third of lifestyle guru Taru’s impeccably stylish properties to open, and her graceful renovation has carefully retained the elegant colonial ambience of this ancestral home whilst bringing it firmly into the 21st century. Ornate chandeliers, Dutch-period furniture and magnificent antiques provide plenty of interest while as a personal touch, Begum Zarina’s portraits and paintings liberally adorn the crisp white walls. Located on a quiet leafy side street The Park Street is a solace in a busy city and its high level of personalised service makes it incomparable with the city’s large five star properties.

Room type: Luxury Suite
Meals: Breakfast

Days 2, 3 Colombo - Galle
After breakfast, perhaps a plateful of steaming string hoppers with potato and coconut milk curry, we travel along the south coast towards Galle.

Galle
Old Galle is a UNESCO world heritage site; a unique example of a preserved 17th C colonial Fortress. The Galle Fort itself is still a living monument with a bustling community within the great ramparts, massive bastions, pepper pot towers, while narrow streets display its Dutch heritage with beckoning pillared verandas and fretwork facades. Walking around is best so you can peep through frangipani filled courtyards at houses, galleries or shops selling antiques, spices, pictures, nouveau-boule and hand-woven sarongs. Boutique hotels incongruously cheek by jowl with postage-stamp size cafes, so you are never far from a perfect sun-downer. Pondicherri meets Cadaques!

Accommodation: The Dutch House, Galle
High on a hill, yet within minutes of the city centre, and with magnificent views of the UN World Heritage listed fort of Galle, Doornberg or The Dutch House has set the pace in redefining luxury accommodation for the individual traveller in Sri Lanka. Highly exclusive with only 4 suites this country house built in 1712 ensures complete privacy for its guests. Spacious living areas, an English tropical garden complete with croquet lawn and treetop infinity pool provides ample space for guests to find a quiet area in which to truly unwind. Period Dutch antiques reflect its early 18th century origins but blend in well with its contemporary collection of art.

Room type: Deluxe Room
Meals: Breakfast

Days 4, 5 Galle - Tangalle
A two hour trip towards the east along the ‘Riviera’ will take you to Tangalle, described by many as home to Sri Lanka’s best beaches.

Accommodation: Amanwella
Amanwella is situated in a mature coconut grove fronting a crescent-shaped beach close to the village of Tangalle. Combining aman or peace in Sanskrit with wella, the Sinhalese word for beach, all 30 suites of this contemporary beachfront resort feature their own private plunge pool and terrace. Linked by pathways, suites are interspersed along the hillside and offer sweeping views of the ocean and the beach. Guests can enjoy the 45m swimming pool and expansive terrace, the well-stocked Library, spa treatments, the Restaurant serving Asian and Mediterranean cuisine with an emphasis on fresh local seafood and casual, beachside dining at the Beach Club. Sightseeing to rustic villages, temples and wildlife nature reserves offers perspectives on Sri Lanka's traditions and its bountiful flora and fauna.

Room type: Suite
Meals: No Meals

Days 6, 7 Tangalle - Bentota
The trip from Tangalle to Bentota takes approximately 3.5 hours. On route you might want to stop at Ambalangoda to see some of the wonderful antiques and traditional arts and crafts shops.

Bentota
Bentota used to be a place to rest on the way to Galapatha Temple which legend claims is linked by a maze of subterranean tunnels with all other temples in the area. Today Bentota is big on sea sports and activities; so you may well need a holiday after you get back!

On Bentota lagoons calm waters you can enjoy everything from jet skiing and windsurfing to wakeboarding and canoeing. Boat trips up the river and deep sea fishing trips depend on weather conditions. Many independent diving schools operate along the beach front during diving season, between December and March/April.

But if thats too much like work, take a brief respite to see the results of a labour of love at the very private Brief, a Jardin tranquille near Kalawila. Sculpted over forty years, it was anything but a brief diversion for Capability Bawa- brother of the renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa who designed some of the most enchanting buildings in Asia, including Lunuganga with an equally magical garden. Brief has a Japanese garden, a Folly, several walled gardens and hidden surprises as well as a private museum of Art inside the house and out.

Accommodation: The River House
For a romantic escape or get-together with a group of friends, The River House is the perfect choice. Enveloped within seven acres of tropical gardens beside the broad Madhu Ganga River, close to the town of Balapitiya, its secluded setting down a little unmarked road means that you have room to breathe and fully dissolve into the peaceful surroundings. The second of renowned fashion and lifestyle guru Taru’s beautiful group of properties, The River House is South Asian in style and even more exquisite and sophisticated that its sister property Taprobana - space is an added luxury while bubbling Jacuzzis, slate plunge pools and enormous bathrooms give it added exclusivity.

Room type: Suite
Meals: No Meals

Day 8 Colombo – Colombo Airport
Depart in good time for your flight back home. The journey to the airport will take approximately 1 hours although it can take 1.5 hours during peak traffic hours.

What's included :
* Air-conditioned car and English-speaking driver for tour and transfers
* Airport meet and greet
* 1 night at Park Street Hotel on Bed and Breakfast
* 2 nights at Dutch House on Bed and Breakfast
* 2 nights at Amanwella on Bed and Breakfast
* 2 night at The River House on Bed and Breakfast.

What's not included :
* Scheduled international & domestic flights
* Comprehensive travel insurance
* Optional tours & activities
* Entry fees where applicable
* Gratuities and expenses of a personal nature

Wilderness As Necessity
(7 Nights / 8 Days)

The philosophy behind this one week holiday is that going into wilderness is going home and that nature is a necessity. The journey is designed to experience the wild and pristine jungles and beaches of the deep south of Sri Lanka and stimulate and reconnect you to yourself and the environment. Your trip is anchored at an elegant hideaway on a secluded beach – the Kadju House – the private retreat of the ecologist Vikrom Mathur. The experiences into the wilderness areas have been personally designed by Vikrom and Saman, a naturalist from the local village in partnership with Sri Lanka in Style.

Peacocks leave wet foot prints on the floor of the Kadju (Cashew) House pavilion and parrots, fishing eagles, monkeys, mongooses and monitor lizards frequent the grove. The house is also ideally situated for day trips to six remarkable nature reserves where wildlife can be encountered in its natural habitat. These are: Yalla National Park – with the highest leopard density in the world; Uda Walawe park with elephant herds of up to 100 animals (with as many as 20 calves); the beaches of Rekewa, nesting ground for five species of marine turtles; the deep seas off the coast from Mirrisa frequented by blue whales, sperm whales and long-snouted spinner dolphins; Bundala wetlands where flamingos flock during the winter months, and the Kalametiya lagoon home to many species of waders.

Day 1 Colombo Airport - Tangalle
We will meet you at Colombo airport and transfer you to the Kadju House. The Kadju House is located in Tangalle about 190 km from Colombo. During the day, the drive from Colombo takes approximately 5 hours via the southern coastal road. But the route, along alluring beaches and through bustling villages, is very picturesque. The journey time can be reduced by at least an hour in the early mornings or late evenings. There are interesting spots and diversions along the way. We particularly recommend a stop in Galle for a stroll through the Dutch Ancient Fort and a lunch. (depending on the hour of arrival at the airport).

A helicopter flight from the international airport to Tangalle is 1¼ hours can also be arranged for upon request.

Accommodation; Kadju House
Kadju House is serene, relaxed and intimate. Overlooking a pristine crescent-shaped beach, the house offers four en-suite bedrooms, an Ayurvedic spa and an infinity pool with sweeping sea views. The design blends a simple tropical aesthetic with modern luxury. The four full-time staff includes a gourmet chef. The house is located in a cashew grove just outside the fishing village of Tangalle. Only a handful of private homes have direct access to the picture-perfect Seenimodera beach, with its soft white sand and swaying palms. The warm, clear waters of the Indian Ocean are ideal for body-boarding and swimming all year round. Fishing boats land in the morning and fresh fish can be bought directly from the boats.

Day 2 visit to the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary
After a late breakfast and a swim in the pool, we recommend you to start your day by exploring the surroundings of the house and Tangalle. The breathtaking views of the ocean, a walk or swim at the pristine beach or spotting the peacocks, monkeys and parrots from the veranda of the house while reading some interesting literature about the island, its people and nature.

The chef can give you some recommendations for lunch and it might be a nice occasion on your first day at the Kadju House to try some of the local Sri Lankan dishes.

A late afternoon trip to the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary which is about 30 minutes away can be arranged. This sanctuary is a diverse area of wetland with brackish lagoons, mangrove swamps, open grassy areas and pockets of scrub jungle. It is an important site for migrant waders and provides an important refuge for the smaller mammals of Sri Lanka. A vast array of wetland birds can be seen here. Sought after species include Slaty-breasted Crake, Watercock and Black Bittern. During the winter months Glossy Ibis may be present among the thousands of waders.

The Kalametiya lagoon is also perfect for punting around in flat bottom boats. We can arrange for sundown drinks on the nearby Taragala Rock.

Dinner options: Kadju House or Amanwella.

Day 3 Leopards of Yala
After an early breakfast we leave for The Rahuna National Park. Which is approximately a 2 hours drive depending on the traffic.

This is the most popular wildlife safari destination in Sri Lanka. Ruhuna National Park is divided into five blocks, of which Block 1 (Yala West) is open to the public. The park is home to the highest leopard density in the world, and sightings of elephants, crocodiles, wild buffalo, bear, and wild boar are also frequent. It has wide range of habitats from scrub jungle, lakes, brackish lagoons to riverine habitat. The flora is typical of dry monsoon forest vegetation – grassy plains interspersed with pockets of forest. The park is also one of the best places to see the rare Black-necked Stork. During winter months a day of birding in the park can yield up to a 100 species. At the end of the North-east Monsoon (February), the park is also very good for butterflies.

After visiting the park we recommend a refreshing bath in the river and a picnic lunch on the way back to the Kadju House where the rest of the day is spent idly on the beach or the house.

Dinner optional.

Day 4 Aunty Minnerva Spice Secrets and Turtle watch at Rekewa
Authentic Sri Lankan cooking is best experienced in the village style. Most Sri Lankan’s will recount stories of aunts in a village somewhere who cook indigenous red rice and an array of exotic curries using farm fresh vegetables, fragrant spices, wild herbs and fresh sea food. For a taste of authentic Sri Lankan cooking, we suggest you try aunty Minerva’s course on traditional village cuisine. Assisted by chef Anton she will share with you her family’s secret recipes! Learn how to make a delicious kadju curry (from cashew nuts harvested from Kadju’s own garden), a sweet and sour pineapple curry, spicy prawn curry, an array of vegetable dishes (curried or “devilled”) and some spicy, hot relishes called sambol. Sample your efforts for lunch!

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure and a swim in the pool or a spa treatment might work really well after spending so much of your energy in the morning…!

Dinner is optional.

After dinner we can take you on a short drive to Rekewa’s beaches. These are well known breeding grounds for Sri Lanka’s 5 species of indigenous marine turtles. The Turtle Conversation Program runs nightly turtle watch program where visitors can watch turtles lay and hatch their eggs. The peak turtle season runs from February to July. Turtles make their slow, deliberate journey up the beach. As soon as the eggs hatch, the baby turtles act on their instincts, scuttle for their lives, and swim out to sea. The vigil requires patience! The turtles take their time and the whole process of nesting can take up to 3 hours –it can involve ‘false crawls' or non-nesting emergence. There is also no certainty that they will emerge at all – but just sitting on an empty beach on an impossibly bright starry night with a mug of arrack and chocolate is well worth it.

Day 5 Whale & Dolphins in Mirrisa
After breakfast we will depart for Mirissa, about 1.5 hours drive from Tangalle for a unique a whales and dolphin watching trip.

The South of Dondra in Sri Lanka may turn out to be one of the best locations in the world for seeing blue whales. Furthermore, it may also be the best for seeing both blue whales and sperm whales together. Due to the calm seas, between December and April, there are is an outstanding window of opportunity for observing Blue Whales and Sperm Whales close to shore. Sightings peak in December and April due to a migration of the whales. The period between January and April is also a good time for dolphins. We have often been accompanied by pods of spinner dolphins on our trips. We are in close contact with the company that operates the dolphin and whale watching tours and can advise the best time for a 3 or 6 hour trip.

This will be a full day trip so lunch will be enjoyed in Mirissa while dinner can be served at the Kadju House or a restaurant of your choice in Tangalle. If whale watching is not an option due to the season then we can opt for Udawale National Park.

Udawale National Park
We recommend an early start for a game drive in the park at the crack of dawn – just as the jungle is waking up. The park is a paradise for elephant lovers (it boasts a population of 400 pachyderms, including six tuskers) and also offers excellent bird watching opportunities. It is primarily open park land traversed by the river Walawe Ganga and numerous streams -- which makes elephant sightings particularly accessible. Other animals frequently sighted include spotted deer, langur monkeys, jackal, wild boar and water buffalo.

A picnic breakfast will be waiting for you on the banks of a nearby stream.

If you are not up for an early rise then sundown is also a good time to visit the park. You can also float over Uda Walawe in a hot air balloon – a dramatic way to view the pachyderms from above.

Dinner optional.

Day 6 Flamingos of Bundela
After a lazy morning we depart for The Bundela park, with open scrub forests around sand dunes bordering the sea. With around 150 reported species, the coast offers great opportunities for bird watching, as well as the occasional sighting of elephants and crocodiles. The salt pans attract a vast number of migratory shore birds, making this 6,216 hectare park one of the most important wetlands in Sri Lanka. The best time to visit Bundala is between November and March when the winter migratory birds arrive. Migrants include Golden and Kentish Plover, Large and Lesser Sandplovers, Marsh and Curlew Sandpiper, Curlew, Flamingos and Greenshank. Rarities include the Broad-billed Sandpipper and Red-necked Phalarope. The park’s beaches are an important nesting site for turtles.

We can organize for a picnic lunch and we aim to be back at the Kadju House before sunset.

Dinner is optional.

Day 7 Tangalle to Colombo
After breakfast we travel back to Colombo where we can make a stop on the way for a late lunch in Bentota at the River House arriving in Colombo in the afternoon.

The River House, Bentota
This is a spectacular villa set on the banks of the Madhu Ganga river, a haven for naturalists and ultimate relaxation.

Colombo
A final stop in Colombo will not disappoint. A glimpse beneath the chaotic façade of this metropolis on the banks of the Indian Ocean will reveal a treasure of delights and surprises to the inquisitive visitor. We always encourage our guest to experience Colombo for at least a day or two. Colombo is not a city where crowds of tourist are shoved from one monument to the next. It is not a city of shopping malls or gigantic plasma screens pumping out advertisements night and day. It is a city with charming little hideaways waiting to be discovered. We have carefully handpicked the best shops and galleries, and the best restaurants. Sri Lanka In Style offers a personalized shopping tour of Colombo for those interested.

Accommodation; Park Street Hotel
This beautifully restored 250-year-old colonial bungalow was once the abode of Colombo entrepreneur Sheikh Salehbhoy Moosajee and his second wife Begum Zarina, a flamboyant artist, fashion and social icon of the time. It was the third of lifestyle guru Taru’s impeccably stylish properties to open, and her graceful renovation has carefully retained the elegant colonial ambience of this ancestral home whilst bringing it firmly into the 21st century. Ornate chandeliers, Dutch-period furniture and magnificent antiques provide plenty of interest while as a personal touch, Begum Zarina’s portraits and paintings liberally adorn the crisp white walls. Located on a quiet leafy side street The Park Street is a solace in a busy city and its high level of personalised service makes it incomparable with the city’s large five star properties.

Room type: Luxury Suite
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 Colombo – Colombo Airport
Depart in good time for your flight back home. The journey to the airport will take approximately 1 hours although it can take 1.5 hours during peak traffic hours.

What's included :
* Air-conditioned car and English-speaking driver for tour and transfers
* Airport meet and greet
* 7 nights at Kadju House, Tangalle on bed and breakfast.
* 1 night at the Park Street Hotel on bed and breakfast
* Local taxes
* Virtuoso EXCLUSIVE: Virtuoso clients will receive a special gift

What's not included :
* Scheduled international & domestic flights
* Comprehensive travel insurance
* Optional tours & activities
* Entry fees where applicable
* Gratuities and expenses of a personal nature